What To Do With a Bouquet (After the Delivery)

You’ve just been given flowers.

Perhaps they arrived at your door wrapped in brown paper and ribbon, maybe a courier dropped them at your desk, or you may have picked them up for yourself on the way home (highly encouraged). They look beautiful — hand-tied and artfully wrapped — but now you’re wondering "What do I do with them?"

If you’re not sure what the next steps are, you’re not alone. We hear this question all the time in the shop.  Here’s a simple guide to getting the most out of your bouquet, from unwrapping it, to choosing the right vase, and even how to refresh it once some blooms start to fade.

  

First things first: what is a bouquet?

A bouquet is a bunch of flowers that’s hand-tied and usually wrapped in paper or cellophane. Ours often come with a wet wrap or water bag so they stay hydrated during delivery, whether they’re being left on a doorstep or travelling across the Central Coast.

If your flowers arrive with a water bag, the easiest way to remove it is over the sink. Pierce a small hole in the bottom of the bag and let it drain completely. Once it’s empty, use scissors to cut the rest of the wrap off. The paper and cellophane can often be reused — pop it in a gift bag or keep it for wrapping presents.

 

 

Choose the right vase 

It might sound simple, but the vase you choose can make a big difference in how your bouquet looks (and how long it lasts).

Neck opening:

Too wide? Your flowers might flop to the sides and lose their shape.

Too narrow? The bouquet’s spiral stems will be squashed together, crowding each bloom.

The bouquet’s spiral design is what gives it structure — it fans out the stems so each flower has space to shine. A vase that supports this shape without cramping it is ideal.

Height:

A good rule of thumb is about 1/3 vase, 2/3 flowers.

If your stems are too long and top-heavy, they can fall out of balance. Trim them so they sit snugly and securely inside the vase, while still showing off the blooms.

We have plenty of vase-ready bouquets like Queen and Just Peachy that look gorgeous in the right vase. Choose something that suits your space, but don’t be afraid to trim the stems a little to fit.

 

Thinking about investing in a vase?

It can be surprisingly tricky to choose just one. Besides all the variations (some tall, some short, some wide, and some narrow) it’s hard to predict what flowers you’ll want to pop in it down the track.

A good rule of thumb is to look for a vase with a wider base and a slightly narrower neck. That shape gives your flowers the best support and tends to work well with a variety of bunches.

  

Should you untie the bouquet?

If you're planning to leave the flowers together it's best to keep the tie on. This helps maintain the bouquet’s original shape, especially if your vase is a little on the wide side. If you untie it the stems may fall to the bottom of the vase, losing the balanced, structured look.

But if you're feeling creative (or want to spread flowers throughout your home), go ahead and take it apart. Dividing a bouquet into smaller vases is a lovely way to style multiple rooms, and it can also give fading blooms a second life.

 

When to split a bouquet into smaller vases

Here are a few signs it might be time to divide your bouquet:

• Your vase opening is too wide, and the bouquet loses its shape.
• Some stems are starting to wilt.  You can remove them and keep the rest fresh.
• You want to create smaller arrangements for the bedside, kitchen, or bathroom.

Breaking up a bouquet can give it new life. Try pairing big focal flowers with fresh greenery for a minimalist look, or group similar colours together for a more styled feel.

 

Rearranging your bouquet (if you’re up for playing!)

Start by stripping any leaves that will sit below the waterline. This keeps the water cleaner for longer.

Here’s a simple order to follow:

• Greenery goes first. It creates a base and gives structure.
• Add focal flowers (the biggest, most striking blooms).
• Fill in with filler flowers and smaller accents.
• Step back. Check the shape.
• Tweak as needed until it feels balanced and pleasing to the eye.

This is even something you can do a few days in. As flowers fade, you can refresh the bouquet by removing wilted stems and rearranging what's still fresh.  It's a great way to extend the life of your blooms.

  

Bouquet vs. arrangement: what’s the difference?

A bouquet is hand-tied and designed to be placed in a vase by the recipient.

An arrangement is already designed into a vase or floral foam, and it’s ready to display as-is. No trimming, no arranging, just top up with water.

At Olivieri’s, our Pride of Erin arrangement is crafted in floral foam inside a ceramic pot (perfect for a statement gift that arrives ready to go), while Blushing Blooms is a vase arrangement, meaning it comes already styled in a vase.

Knowing what you’re receiving (or sending) can help manage expectations and make flower care easier.

 

 

Flower care tricks we swear by

• Change the water daily if you can, and give the vase a quick rinse to get rid of bacteria.
• Re-trim the stems every couple of days with a diagonal cut to help the flowers to drink more easily.
• Use a flower food sachet.

If you're working with loose flowers, try these:

• A grid of sticky tape across the vase opening can help hold stems in place.
• Chicken wire or scrunched-up paper from the bouquet wrap can create structure at the base.

 

Final thoughts

A fresh bouquet is more than a pretty bunch, it’s a small ritual. From unwrapping it gently to choosing just the right vase, every step is part of the experience. It’s a way to slow down for a moment, bring beauty into your space, and connect with the person who sent it - or just with yourself.

The next time you receive (or gift) a bouquet, take a minute to enjoy the process. Put the kettle on, clear a spot, and give your flowers the welcome they deserve.

And if you need a bouquet worth fussing over you know where to find us!